---
title: Graham Hull · HICONIUM
description: Graham Hull in the HICONIUM register — one file carrying their credit.
canonical_url: https://hiconium.dev/people/graham-hull
image: https://hiconium.dev/og/people/graham-hull.png
---

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> Path: [Home](https://hiconium.dev/) › [People](https://hiconium.dev/people) › Graham Hull
> On this page: [From Mulsanne studies to a new coupé](#from-mulsanne-studies-to-a-new-coupé) · [Interior detailed at Crewe](#interior-detailed-at-crewe) · [One file carries this name](#one-file-carries-this-name)

People

# Graham Hull

Rolls-Royce and Bentley chief stylist

| Label | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Born | Southgate, North London, 1947 |

The record

Designer who joined Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motors at Crewe in 1971 and later became Chief Stylist for both marques. His late-1986 Continental R renderings preceded the March 1987 decision to start work on the new Bentley coupé; at Crewe, Hull and Martin Bourne detailed its interior.

Graham Hull was born in 1947 in Southgate, North London. He trained at Harrow School of Art, the Central School of Art and Design and the Royal College of Art automotive-design course, sponsored by Chrysler UK. He joined Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motors at Crewe in 1971, aged 24, as the sixth member of Fritz Feller's styling department.

After Feller's 1984 retirement, Hull continued in the styling department. By the mid-1980s, the publisher described him as Chief Stylist responsible for both marques; Bentley later referred to him as Chief Stylist in a 1994 account of the Crewe studio. He remained at Crewe through the BMW–Volkswagen division of the marques and left in 2001.

By March 1987, Crewe had cancelled a direct Corniche replacement and begun work on a new Bentley coupé styled around Hull's late-1986 renderings. John Heffernan and Ken Greenley developed the exterior at Hythe Road. At Crewe, Hull designed the cheater door mirrors and, with Martin Bourne, detailed the interior's veneer, leather and chromework. The Continental R was launched at the 1991 Geneva Show.

### From Mulsanne studies to a new coupé

Two-door studies derived from the existing saloon were judged too close to the Corniche and too costly to rework. By March 1987, Crewe had abandoned a direct Corniche replacement and begun the new Bentley coupé around Hull's late-1986 renderings.

### Interior detailed at Crewe

The published account of the programme says Heffernan may have originated the interior concept. Hull and Martin Bourne then detailed its veneers, leather and chromework at Crewe; the brief was a unique four-seater with a through console and floor-mounted gear selector, not a transferred Turbo R cabin.

The stations

1. 1971–2001 Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motors Stylist; later Chief Stylist

The house

[![Bentley](https://hiconium.dev/images/marques/full/bentley.svg)](https://hiconium.dev/manufacturers/bentley)

Credited through Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

In the register

## One file carries this name

- [Bentley Continental R Chief designer and interior designer · Rolls-Royce and Bentley 1991–2003 €120k 1991–2003 €120k Rating 80.0](https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/bentley/continental-r)

The files above are the register's own record of this name. [The people index](https://hiconium.dev/people) holds everyone the register credits.

In their words

> “Considering a coupé's raison d'être is to look chic and even stunning, SZ's Bank of England persona was not the place to start.”

Graham Hull · Davide Bassoli, “Bentley Prototypes – Turbo R Two Door” (Bentley Drivers Club; republished by Flying Spares, 8 December 2022), https://www.flyingspares.com/news/flying-spares-news/bentley-prototypes-turbo-r-two-door1669892269638888ada5d95.html

Sources

- [media.veloce.co.uk](http://www.media.veloce.co.uk/2019/July/V5547/Inside-RR-Bentley-Styling-Department-US.html)
- [speedreaders.info](https://speedreaders.info/12782-inside-rolls-royce-bentley-styling-department-1971-2001/)
- [fable.co](https://fable.co/author/graham-hull)
- [bentleymotors.com](https://www.bentleymotors.com/en/bentley-culture/our-people/darren-day.html)
- [flyingspares.com](https://www.flyingspares.com/news/flying-spares-news/bentley-prototypes-turbo-r-two-door1669892269638888ada5d95.html)
- [manuals.plus](https://manuals.plus/m/efe4c7229725df2f4493b1fe370aa205a38b14faa1d7b0c4135c6b105b218b70)
- [classicdriver.com](https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/crewe-secrets-inside-rolls-royce-bentleys-styling-department)
- [classicandsportscar.com](https://www.classicandsportscar.com/features/bentley-100-r-type-continental-vs-continental-r)